Festival questions bill hikes

City charged the Blueberry Festival $5,073 more in 2005 than in 2004.

City charged the Blueberry Festival $5,073 more in 2005 than in 2004.

December 28, 2005|CHRIS GAUTZ Tribune Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH -- A vague contract, an "enormous" increase in its 2005 bill and the doubling of the cost of its office rental, has organizers of the Marshall County Blueberry Festival wondering if it's welcome in Plymouth anymore. "We want to stay involved with the city ... but they're kind of driving us away," Randy Bowser, president of the Blueberry Festival, said. At Monday's Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, Bowser asked the board to look into the "substantial increase" in the cost of several items the city billed to the festival. The festival was charged $5,073 more in 2005 than in 2004. In particular, the bill for the use of the city's garbage truck had been $76 for each of the past five years. This year, the city charged the festival $1,824. The use of the city's front-end loader had been billed at $280 for each of the past five years. This year, the city charged $1,960. Street Commissioner Jim Marquardt said that last year the city charged the festival for two hours of usage of the garbage truck at $38 an hour. In previous years, when the garbage truck would be returned, there would be about a half a load of garbage. This year, both trucks were returned with full loads, Marquardt said. "This year we knew everything got used a lot," he said. After discussing the increases at the meeting, the Board of Works voted unanimously to split the cost of the increase between the city and the festival. Bowser said he does not know if the festival board will accept the agreement, but said they will discuss it. The park contract On top of this year's $16,420 bill for equipment and labor, the festival paid $26,000 to the park board to reserve the park for the week of the festival. The higher than expected equipment bill this year led Bowser to ask what the festival is getting for its $26,000. "Nobody can answer that," Bowser said. The contract increases the cost of using the park by $1,000 each year until 2009, when it will reach $30,000. "It gets harder every year," he said. Plymouth Parks Superintendent Mike Hite said the contract with the festival details the days and times available for setup, cleanup and restoration. He said the contract, which was signed in August 2004, does not mention what type of extra help or assistance is offered. "They signed the contract," he said. Hite said he was hired after the contract was signed and has had a good relationship with the festival. "I have no qualms with them at all," Hite said. The cost of rent for the festival board's office in the old fire station will be doubled beginning next year from $200 a month to $400. Plymouth Mayor Gary Cook said festival organizers knew about the increase and that the city even waited a year to implement the increase because the board did not have enough budgeted to handle the increase last year. Cook said the increase is because the Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau has its office in the old firehouse as well and had always been charged $400 a month. Cook said the monthly rent includes all utilities except for phone or Internet. "That's a bargain for both those entities," he said. Future of the festival Bowser said the festival has been in the red all but one of the last five years. "It just can't continue much longer, or there won't be a festival," Bowser said. At Monday's meeting Bowser said the festival was not prepared for this kind of an increase, and that sometimes they feel the city is trying to run the festival out of business. Cook said he does not feel this is the case. Cook reiterated at Monday's meeting and again on Tuesday that he wants the festival to stay. "It helps service clubs, churches, not-for-profits and the schools. It helps a vast array of entities countywide," Cook said. Cook said he plans to meet with Bowser and festival organizers after the first of the year. "I think we need to try to find a compromise," Cook said. "I want to try get this ironed out as soon as possible."Staff writer Chris Gautz: cgautz@sbtinfo.com (574) 936-2921